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WGAN Forum Podcast

SIMLAB Week on WGAN Forum Podcast | Day 3: SIMLAB SIM-ON + NETxAutomation: Revolutionizing Building Management | Wednesday, 22 January 2025

WGAN Forum Podcast | SIMLAB Week on WGAN Forum Podcast | Day 3: SIMLAB SIM-ON + NETxAutomation: Revolutionizing Building Management | Wednesday, 22 January 2025 | @Jedrzej @SimlabSales @SIMLAB


SIMLAB WEEK on WGAN Forum Podcast Day 3: SIMLAB SIM-ON + NETxAutomation: Revolutionizing Building Management

Hi All,

On Day 3 (22 January 2025) of SIMLAB WEEK on the WGAN Forum Podcast, we explore how SIMLAB SIM-ON and NETxAutomation are revolutionizing building management. From Matterport digital twins to advanced IoT integration and beyond, this episode highlights cutting-edge tools for facility managers seeking to modernize their workflows.

Highlights:

✓ IoT integration for real-time insights and alerts.
✓ Asset management and visual timelines for maintenance tracking.
✓ AI-powered asset tagging and hybrid visualization for smarter decisions.
✓ The NETxAutomation role as the backbone for connected systems.
✓ Scalable solutions for projects big and small.

Learn how these technologies save time, reduce costs, and create smarter, more efficient spaces for both new and existing facilities.

SIMLAB Links

SIMLAB
SIMLAB STAGES
SIMLAB SIM-ON

Transcript

- [Host 1] All right, so picture this, you're walking through your building, but not in person.

- Oh, this is interesting.

- Yeah it's a digital replica, a full 3D one. And you're not just looking around. You can control lights, you can see every single asset.

- Wow.

- Even predict when something's going to need maintenance. All right there in the 3D model. Sounds pretty futuristic, huh? But this is the power we're diving into today. Especially for all you enterprise facility managers out there.

- [Host 2] Yeah. And it's not futuristic, it's here now.

- That's right.

- And what we'll get into is how these pieces like Matterport for the digital twins. Then you have SIMLAB with their SIM-ON platform and then bringing it all together, NETxAutomation for that building management system.

- [Host 1] Yeah. It's day three of our SIMLAB theme week. And honestly, spreadsheets and site visits, they only get you so far. We've been digging deep into expert interviews, the SIM-ON website, all that, to really uncover how this can save you money, save you time, and make those workflows way smoother.

- [Host 2] And you're exactly right. That's what this is all about. Not just the technology, but the actual benefit you get.

- [Host 1] So let's unpack SIM-ON a bit. I know it uses those Matterport digital twins, a lot of you are already familiar with those. But what makes SIM-ON more than just a pretty 3D model?

- Well, think of it this way. It takes those Matterport visuals and turns them into this active management hub for your entire facility. Not just looking at a picture. You're layering information on top of it. Need to find, let's say an air handler. No more going through files or walking around aimlessly. You just click on it in the model. Boom, you're there.

- No more calling maintenance saying good luck. It's somewhere on the third floor.

- [Host 2] Exactly. Exactly. And it's not just location, it's all the info you need. Click that air handler. You've got its maintenance history, documents, you know, pictures even, all linked right there in the 3D space.

- [Host 1] Okay. So goodbye file cabinets.

- Yeah, exactly.

- So that's organization. But you mentioned layering information. What kind of data can SIM-ON actually handle?

- [Host 2] So there are four key layers that make it really powerful. First one's IoT, the internet of things. Now think about it. You've got sensors all over your building, let's say one detects a temperature spike in a server room.

- Oh, that's never good.

- Not good at all. With this IoT layer, you wouldn't just get a generic alert. You'd see that alert visually tied to that exact rack in your 3D model.

- [Host 1] So you know precisely where to send someone. No more time wasted figuring out which rack is freaking out. Time saver for sure. What about the second layer?

- This one's all about asset management, but it goes way beyond just, you know, tagging things on a spreadsheet. You can store every single bit of info about an asset right in the digital twin, manuals, warranty info, repair records, anything you can think of. And they're even working on integrating with IBM Maximo.

- Oh, nice. So for those of you already using Maximo, you don't have to scrap it. You can bring it right into SIM-ON, that's a relief. All right, what about layer number three?

- [Host 2] So any facility knows, scheduling and tracking maintenances, it's a struggle. This layer tackles that with a visual timeline linked to each asset right there in your model. You can schedule tasks, see what's coming up, even look back at past work. It's all there.

- [Host 1] Like a maintenance crystal ball, but with records to back it up. Love it. All right. Bring on layer four.

- All right, so this one's all about communication. It's the ticketing system. Let's say a light bulb burns out, right? With SIM-ON anyone can snap a photo.

- Easy enough.

- System tags the location in the model automatically, generates a ticket for maintenance. Simple, effective, and, you know, can even help with those language barriers since it's visual.

- [Host 1] That's huge. Especially in a big facility with lots of different teams. Okay, so we've got all this data, all this communication happening, needs a strong system behind it. That's where NETxAutomation comes in, right?

- [Host 1] Exactly. NETxAutomation is the building management system, the BMS, working behind the scenes. You can think of it as the central nervous system for your building, connecting all those systems together. And the integration with SIM-ON, that's key. That's how you get this 3D management experience we're talking about.

- [Host 1] Now, I know some of you listening are thinking, hold on, my building's a mix of old and new systems. Can NETxAutomation really handle that?

- [Host 2] It's actually, it's designed for that kind of complexity. NETx can talk to a huge range of systems from the newest protocols like BACnet to older stuff using Modbus, even those proprietary systems nobody wants to touch.

- [Host 1] Just like a universal translator for your building.

- Exactly. Exactly.

- [Host 1] So if you've got that mess of incompatible systems, NETx might be your new best friend. And this partnership with SIMLAB, it's about bringing all that powerful data into this intuitive 3D environment, right?

- [Host 2] Precisely. It's about a next generation BMS solution that's both powerful and user friendly.

- [Host 1] Now, I know a lot of you are already using Matterport and you might be thinking, okay, does SIM-ON mean starting from scratch?

- That's a great question.

- Yeah.

- [Host 2] And no, not at all. SIM-ON has a built-in tool that takes those MatterTags you've already made, converts them into SIM-ON assets, saves a ton of time and effort, builds on what you already have.

- [Host 1] That's a huge relief. You're not abandoning Matterport, you're just making it way better. But we've only scratched the surface here. We got to talk about hybrid visualization and the AI potential.

- Ooh. Yeah. Now things get really interesting. We're talking about combining that 3D model with the detail you'd find in a traditional 2D dashboard. Imagine having those charts and graphs, but right there in the 3D environment.

- [Host 1] So for those who love their spreadsheets, you're not being left out, best of both worlds. The visual power of 3D, but also the granular data you need to make decisions. But AI, that's a whole other level. Where does that fit in?

- Imagine you could automatically tag every single asset in your building just using AI.

- [Host 1] Okay, no more manual data entry for hours on end.

- Right. Or picture this, you need to count all the light fixtures. You select one in the model, AI counts all the identical ones instantly.

- [Host 1] That is working smarter, not harder. AI could completely change how facility managers handle those tedious tasks, but this all sounds very high tech. How does a facility manager even begin to implement something like this? Seems like a massive undertaking.

- [Host 2] And that's where SIMLAB and NETxAutomation really stand out. They don't just give you the software and say, good luck. They work with system integrators and most importantly with you, the client, to figure out the best solution.

- [Host 1] So it's a partnership, not just a software purchase.

- Exactly. They get that each building is different. Each facility manager has unique needs.

- [Host 1] And since we know you're all about saving money, saving time and improving those workflows, we're going to dig into specific examples of how this integration does that. That's where we'll pick up in part two of this deep dive.

- [Host 2] Welcome back to our deep dive here.

- [Host 1] All right, so we're picking up where we left off exploring how Matterport, SIMLAB, SIM-ON, NETxAutomation, all these, are really changing the game for facility managers.

- [Host 1] We talked in part one about, you know, saving money, saving time, those workflows,

- Streamlining everything.

- Yeah, exactly.

- We saw how SIM-ON takes those digital twins and makes them, you know, not just pretty pictures, but management hubs. And how NETx connects everything. Even those old systems that can be a real pain.

- [Host 2] Yeah. Those legacy systems.

- But let's shift gears a bit. This technology, it's not just about managing what you have now, it's about the future.

- [Host 2] Yeah, it really is. It's about shaping what's to come.

- [Host 1] So we're not just catching up, we're getting ahead of the game.

- [Host 2] Exactly, think about this. You're designing a brand new building, From the very beginning, you're working with a digital twin that has all these capabilities built in.

- [Host 1] So instead of trying to retrofit smart tech into an old building, we're talking about building smart from day one.

- Yeah. It's a fundamental shift.

- That's huge.

- It is. And it opens up so many possibilities. Architects, engineers, they can collaborate in the digital twin while they're designing.

- [Host 1] I see where you're going with this.

- [Host 2] They can spot problems, inefficiencies, you know, before anything's even built.

- Got to be a huge cost saver.

- Oh, absolutely. Catching those issues early, you could avoid millions in rework later.

- [Host 1] Yeah, no one wants that.

- [Host 2] And it goes beyond design, construction crews using the digital twin to track progress, manage materials, even training people virtually before they're on site.

- It's like the blueprint evolves along with the building.

- [Host 2] Yeah, real time insights at every stage.

- [Host 1] And once it's built, that digital twin becomes the facility manager's best friend.

- Oh, absolutely.

- Complete understanding of the systems, how it all works, where everything is.

- Right. No more relying on outdated plan.

- [Host 1] Or that one guy who's been there forever and knows where all the skeletons are hidden.

- [Host 2] Exactly. Exactly. And remember those AI capabilities we talked about?

- Yeah.

- Imagine how powerful those become when they're part of the design and construction process itself.

- [Host 1] So you could use AI to, I don't know, optimize sensor placement.

- Absolutely.

- [Host 1] Make sure you're getting the best data from day one for energy efficiency, predictive maintenance, all that.

- [Host 2] Exactly. AI can analyze performance in real-time. Find areas to improve, even suggest solutions.

- [Host 1] So the building's almost learning and adapting.

- In a way, yeah. Becoming more efficient over time.

- [Host 1] That's pretty impressive. But let's be realistic for a second. Some of our listeners might be thinking, okay, this is great for these massive new projects, but what about us smaller folks?

- Right. Good point.

- You know? The ones not building a whole new skyscraper.

- [Host 2] Yeah. And the truth is, these solutions aren't just for, you know, mega corporations or huge projects, even smaller facilities can benefit.

- So it's scalable.

- Very much so.

- [Host 1] You don't need a sprawling campus to make this work.

- Exactly. Let's say you manage a few residential buildings. You can use SIM-ON for maintenance requests, scheduling repairs, communicating with tenants, all within that 3D model.

- [Host 1] And with NETx, you can monitor energy use across all the buildings.

- Yep.

- Find savings. Even automate things like thermostats or lighting.

- [Host 2] Absolutely. Bringing that enterprise level power, but making it accessible, making it affordable.

- [Host 1] So whether it's one office building or a whole portfolio, there's a solution that can help you, you know, work smarter, not harder, like we always say.

- [Host 2] And as this tech keeps evolving, we're going to see even more innovative uses, changing how we design, how we build, how we manage the spaces we're in.

- [Host 1] Now, all this future talk is great, but let's bring it back down to earth. Our listeners are probably thinking, okay, how do I actually get started with all this?

- [Host 2] That's the million dollar question. And that's what we'll be tackling in part three of this deep dive, giving you practical advice on how do we embrace this future of smart building management.

- [Host 1] All right, welcome back to our deep dive. We've been talking all about smart building management, SIMLAB.

- [Host 2] Those exciting possibilities.

- [Host 1] Exactly. And we've covered a lot. You know, the visual power of SIM-ON, how robust NETxAutomation is as that BMS backbone.

- [Host 2] Right, bringing it all together.

- [Host 1] We've seen how this can save you money, save you time, and just make things easier for you facility managers.

- Reduce those headaches.

- [Host 1] But now, let's get practical. How do you actually get started with all of this? Because it can feel a bit overwhelming.

- [Host 2] Yeah, it can definitely seem like a lot, you know, understanding it is one thing, but actually doing it.

- Right. Putting it into practice.

- That's the real challenge. So I think the first step is honestly assessing your needs. Like what are your biggest pain points right now? Where do you see the most room for improvement?

- [Host 1] Is it tracking down assets? Is it managing those work orders? Or just communication breakdowns between teams?

- Yeah, exactly. Once you have a clear picture of what those challenges are, then you can start looking for solutions that actually address them specifically. Don't just jump on the newest tech because it sounds cool.

- It's got to solve a real problem for you.

- Exactly. And that's where choosing the right partners, that's crucial.

- Right. It's tech partners you mean?

- Yeah. The technology partners, SIMLAB, NETxAutomation, they both really emphasize that collaborative approach.

- They're not just going to throw the software at you and say, figure it out.

- [Host 2] No, no, not at all. They work closely with integrators and with you, the client, to figure out what works best for your needs, for your building.

- [Host 1] It's like assembling a dream team for your building almost.

- It is, it is. You need experts who understand the tech, but also your specific challenges. So look for partners with a proven track record. Ones who can offer not just the software, but also the guidance, the support, you know, ongoing expertise.

- Yeah. What about the implementation process itself? Because even with the best tech, if it's not implemented well.

- [Host 2] Oh, it's a disaster waiting to happen. Communication is absolutely key throughout that whole process.

- Keeping everyone informed.

- Yeah. Keep your team in the loop. Explain the benefits, address any concerns they have.

- [Host 1] Get everyone excited about it.

- [Host 2] Exactly. Get that buy-in and training is crucial too.

- Makes sense.

- Make sure everyone who's going to be using these new systems that they actually know how to use them.

- [Host 1] Don't just assume they'll figure it out.

- [Host 2] Yeah. You want everyone to feel comfortable, confident with these new tools and don't feel like you have to do everything at once.

- Oh, good point.

- Start small if you need to. Focus on one specific area, one challenge, prove that the tech works, then you scale-up from there.

- So it's a journey, not just a destination.

- Exactly. You're constantly learning, adapting, refining your approach along the way.

- Now this technology, it's really about giving you, the facility manager, the power. Giving you the tools, the insights to make your building work better, save money, you know, create smarter spaces.

- Absolutely.

- [Host 1] So for our listeners who are ready to jump into this world of smart building management, what's that first step they should take?

- [Host 2] I'd say take that first step, that assessment. What are your biggest challenges? Then find those partners to help you navigate this. SIMLAB, NETxAutomation, they're there to guide you.

- [Host 1] And if you're ready to take that next step, head over to www.SIM-ON.com, select the Contact Us form, connect with their team.

- [Host 2] And if you want to, to see this tech in action, check out the WGAN-TV Podcast shows featuring SIMLAB. You can find those at: WGAN.info/SIMLABonWGAN

- [Host 1] Well, that wraps up our deep dive. We hope this has given you some valuable info, some practical advice to take on this journey of smart building management.

- [Host 2] It's an exciting time to be in this field.

- [Host 1] It really is. We believe this technology can truly revolutionize how buildings are managed, making your jobs easier, your buildings more efficient, and ultimately your tenants happier. So keep exploring, keep learning, and keep pushing those boundaries of what's possible in building management. Until next time.


WGAN Forum Podcast

SIMLAB Links

1. SIMLAB
2. SIMLAB STAGES
3. SIMLAB SIM-ON